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Local property developer Abland and joint venture partner Ellerine Brothers have started development of the 35 Lower Long office tower, in Cape Town, in the Western Cape.

The four-star green building will be located on Lower Long Street, in the City Bowl. The 24-storey office tower will replace an older, lower building that was designed in the late 1980s.

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Construction has started, with internal stripping of the building and external demolition to start this month. Completion of the development is set for the first quarter of 2020.

The building area will comprise 13 446 m2 of office space, 323 m2 of retail space on the ground floor and nine above-ground parking levels, as well as a penthouse on the top floor.

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Priority has been given to activating the entire street edges of Lower Long and Jetty streets by adding multiple entry points and a prominent double-volume entrance space.

While motorists will have easy access to major routes, such as the N1, the N2 and the Western Seaboard from the property, the office building is also close to the MyCiti bus station, as well as the main train station, which provides easy access for individuals using public transport, Abland Cape regional director James Cresswell explains.

In addition, the building is located in the popular foreshore precinct near the Cape Town International Convention Centre. “Amenities such as hotels, restaurants and bars surround the building, making this a very popular precinct.”

As one of the first of a cluster of taller buildings envisaged in a currently underdeveloped area that is rapidly emerging as Cape Town’s financial centre, the design of the building not only provides world-class office space but also aims to invi- gorate this part of the city, at street level and within the greater cityscape.

Meanwhile, the sculpted form of the building, paired with the defragmentation and articulation of the corners, will provide dynamic views of the building across the city, according to Abland.

The building will have a modern look, characterised by dynamic glazed façades of floor-to-ceiling heights that extend seamlessly over the office and parking levels, according to DHK Architects.

Cresswell further explains that Abland has created light and airy usable space on each floor. Limiting heat build-up on the glass panels to ensure a comfortable working environment for all tenants is a critical factor – hence, the design incorporates double glazing and angles the building away from the northern summer sun.

The design also includes low-flow taps and dual-flush toilets to ensure efficient water use, while the inclusion of bicycle racks, lockers and showers aim to encourage the office tower occupiers to cycle to work.

To ensure the building is environmentally sustainable during construction, Abland has appointed engineering consultancy Solid Green, a specialist in ensuring that waste from the site is recycled and that, where possible, locally manufactured products are used to avoid transporting products. Solid Green will also review all materials used on site to ensure that, where possible, sustainable materials are used.

Cresswell highlights that the developers are excited about the project, adding that Abland’s objective is to develop “an iconic building”. The property developer is involved in 15 projects – spanning across the retail, industrial and commercial sectors – in and around Cape Town, which are at various stages of development.